Desertfest 14 Review (Desertfest 13 Here)
The third incarnation of the London Desertfest steamrolled into north London last weekend and London’s most famous market street was once again the holy ground of those worshippers of the fuzz. Once again denim, leather, truckers hats and more than the odd beard, descended upon the 3 day mecca of UK fuzz freaks. The festival this year offered an incredible diversity of sounds from 2 piece Australian instrumental acts to 6 piece Norwegian genre-less (I think you know who I mean) juganauts to returning and reforming doom legends, with just about every sub genre of the stoner/metal/doom scene represented on some level. This is my recollections of what was one hell of a weekend and another Desertscene UK promoted event I was privileged enough to attend. (This is definitely not a professional journalistic report written by a guy with a pad and pencil taking notes and rushing from venue to venue. As such inaccuracies will probably be all to present as so too was a hell of a lot of Hells/Red Stripe!) Enjoy
Friday 25th April Camden Town, London, UK 2014
Wristband acquired, rendezvous made and time to settle in to a well earned Friday pint to A) settle the nerves, and to B) formulate some sort of a plan for Friday. Today was to be a day of bar hoping as the bands on my hit list were varied and spread across the three venues. London’s mighty Black Heart, The Underworld and the main venue The Electric Ballroom. After a swift craft ale, time (already racing) caught up with me and we were off to open the account (as promised) with Brighton’s own Death Ape Disco. I tell you what, for a 3.30 on a Friday afternoon on what was due to be a VERY long weekend, many DesertFesters seemed to have formulated the same plan. Shoulder to shoulder, front to back, greeted Death Ape Disco and they lads delivered which there fast passed up front frantic fuzz leaving a packed Blark Heart with no assumptions. This was going to get loud. Playing tracks from their Supervolcano LP, Death Ape Disco, obviously very humbled by the turn out, (a theme that would repeat many times of the weekend) put on a great show and certainly put themselves on the map of local-ish bands to keep an eye on in the future. Great Start.
From here it was back for another Hells and then onto the Electric Ballroom for some Swiss psych in the way of fuzz veterans Monkey 3. Coming of the back of the success of their latest release “The 5th Sun”, this was a band I have had on my “must see” list for some time. Opening with their apocalyptic, end of the world epic sounding Icurus, it was clear to see why these guys have such a strong following. I overheard a fellow Morsel reader remark “if this track was the soundtrack to the end of the world, I’m ready, what a way to go!” They continued to deliver the kind of set which, in complete contrast to my first band, had the relatively small crowd melting into their first eyes closed, head rocking sway of the weekend.
A quick dash followed soon after, across to the Underworld for Washington DC’s riff tyrants Borracho. Having discovering this band as a result of Desertfest and reviewing them a few weeks back, I was pretty keen to see them in action live. It appeared I was one of the only ones who shared this view as they took the stage of a virtually empty room. My gain, everyone else’s loss in my opinion. Borracho delivered a thick, riff based, US stoner rock masterclass and it appeared to seep out through the murky underbelly of the Underworld as before their first track faded into a haze of feedback and wah, the room packed out! Again the humbleness of the attendance was evident and Borracho stamped their claim as band of the night very early and would take some beating. Great set, really chilled and friendly guys and I wish them all the best for the remainder of their tour. (Come on guys, you know you want to head down under!)
So back on the pavement and a quick step back to the Electric Ballroom for one of my most anticipated sets of the weekend. Since discovering Sasquatch about a year ago with my entry record, Sasquatch III, on almost weekly repeat, LA’s merchants of “easy listening for stoners on long drives”as described on their website, were a "do not miss" band took the stage. Having played now for nearly a decade, Sasquatch treated the, now sizable throng, to a high energy, all out assault of fuzz fuelled, bottom end rumbling, exquisitely vocal lead set of classics of all records. A highlight for me was the inclusion of Chemical Lady which lead to my Desertfest partner in crime, losing his proverbial (already beer soaked) brain and ending up thowing double handed horns over the front barrier. He was not on his own there let me tell you. Sasquatch – Gold!
First visit to the merch stand for some vinyl and my first visit to The King of Falafel for my first chicken doner of the weekend complete!
Now this is where it is fair to say things went adrift on my Friday Desertfest venture. (As I always knew they would) We caught the tail end of Sixty Watt Sharman who appeared to be making on hell of a noise and a band I will no doubt explore in more detail in the future, but it was The Machine that I had entered the Underworld is to see. This is a band that regular readers of the Morsel will need no introduction to as well as no explanation as to how pumped I was to be seeing them again. After a long chat to the lads from Borracho, hopelessly trying to convince them to tour down under, and several crappy beers in plastic cups (come on, when will the Underworld get some decent beers) it is announced that The Machine had missed their flight and would now play the Electric Ballroom at midnight, following Spirit Caravan. OK problem. Beers were flowing very quickly and now the goal posts had been moved from The Machine playing 10-11pm to 12-1am... Love it. This was (as always on the Friday of ANY festival) going to get loose! So we head back to the Electric Ballroom and to our advantage get to check out ex Monster Magnet’s Ed Mundell’s UEMG. This was a band I knew nothing about prior to tonight, but their brand of trippy out, groove laden, driving bass line, stoner rock is something I could get used to and although not in a great spot to watch these guys, they did more than enough for a slowly building crowd to prove that this is far more than a spin off band and they are a serious act. Following their current European tour, I feel we will be hearing a fair bit more about Ed Mundells Ultra Electric Mega Galactic.
Enter Scott “Wino” Weinrich! It was fair to say the now packed out Electric Ballroom were he to see one act. Doom legends Spirit Caravan. Reformed primarily for this gig after years in the wilderness, Wino and friends took hold of the Electric Ballroom’s proverbial throat and rammed down a hits filled set of their own brand of doom rock. The crowd simply lapped it up almost with as much passion and venom as the Red Stripe cans were flying off the shelves at the many bars dotted around the “drunk mans labyrinth” which is the Electric Ballroom. I'll be honest when I say this is not a band I have really every followed but I will say this, it was a privilege to see a legend of the scene do what he does best and you can’t help but get excited when you see this kind of adoring passion from a room full of people. Well played Spirit Caravan!
OK, it was clearly evident that my pace was all wrong from the start as by the time Holland’s greatest musical export (I know big call...Sungrazer??) The Machine graced Desrtfest's main sage, well past midnight, their set descended into a blur (albeit a bloody amazing blur) of colour, fuzz and tripped out jams which provided the second eyes closed, zone out moment of the weekend. These guys are the real deal and it is a shame so many people left after Spirit Caravan as they are masters in their class and deserved a bigger crowd. The moment they finished their set, I was immediately looking forward to the next time they tour, maybe a trip to see them somewhere abroad might be required. (Don’t forget your passport!) I'm curious to see the footage of the GoPro worn by bass player, Hans’, during the set. Then again, maybe I’m not so keen if there was too many crowd shots! So Friday done, 2 night buses, a walk and a taxi later and I make it to bed, knackered but blown away by day one.
Saturday 26th April Camden Town, London, UK 2014
Ouch!! Friday night at Desertfest strikes again. What a hell of a way to start things off. Head pounding, ears ringing and champing at the bit to get back amongst it. The plan was for somewhat of a Ballroom Blitz today with a serious line up installed.
Plans go array very early when a quiet early beer lingers slightly longer than planned and we miss the Anciients. Reports were very favourable and it is a shame but by the time we settle into the familiar position, centrally located on the Ballroom floor, South Carolina’s ASG are just finishing sound check. Now this is a band that I have reviewed several times here on the Morsel and as Borracho the day before, are a band I know only about thanks to the billing here at Desertfest. Having listened to Blood Drive pretty frequently over the past month, interested was certainly peaked. Bloody hell! ASG smashed it. With charismatic front man, Jason Shi tearing it up and delivering the vocal performance of the weekend, ASG were incredible. With shades of Janes Addiction's sweeping vocals, heavy, HEAVY riff work from Jonah Chitty on a wood grain Flying V and an overall polished setlist which showcased a band at the end of a very successful tour. Every song was soaked up by an adorning crowd and anyone there for the first time (me included) left looking well beyond Blood Drive and in search of what is obviously a seriously impressive back catalogue. Second vinyl of the weekend purchased! (And what a vinyl it turned out to be) See right!
Samsara Blues Experiment are one of my all time favourite stoner-psych bands, with Long Distance Trip being one of my go to albums at any time. So it was with great excitement I was able to see these guys for a second time in 12 months. Just as exciting was that I was able to introduce my Desertfest colleagues (CS and BC) to the boys from Berlin. Last time I saw these guys was virtually in the dark at the Borderline, London, so it was a real treat to have the whole visual and aural experience wrapped up into one cosmic, phosphorescent , swirling mass of fuzz! Playing plenty off the above mentioned album, SBE looked totally overwhelmed and again humbled by the worshiping congregation at the altar of fuzz. The closing 22 min epic Double Freedom was worth the weekend admission alone! Mind Blowing! The heckle of the weekend came during one quieter moment during the set when one punter announced, to the appreciation of the early afternoon crowd “You’re quite good!” Quality. I am already looking forward to seeing these guys again in their own back yard at Freak Valley!
Now I know many readers will not quite believe what we did next but hey, it’s about what you’re into right. I appreciate Weedeater’s presence at this festival was the sole reason many came, however it is just not a band that I have had any kind of exposure to. So when an opportunity presents itself to go and see a band, at Desertfest, from my home town (Melbourne, Australia) I just couldn’t resist. Hotel Wrecking City Traders bought their own version of two man instrumental, pedal board, elongated jams to Camden, and having seen this band seven years earlier, I was keen to see the evolution. Ben and Toby are really down to earth and chilled guys who play loud and hard and their improvised jam out session to end the set was an ear aching, sonic boom, wall of noise that had the (stinking hot) packed Black Heart band room rocking and nodding in appreciation. Great to see these guys again and good luck with the Spanish tour!
So Headline Saturday night. KVELERTAK!
Now there are some moments in life that you will never forget and the opening track of this Danish six man juggernaut at Desertfest 14 will be one of them. Opening with the first track on Meir, Åpenbaring, and the traditional entrance of Owl wearing singer Erlend Hjelvik, Kvelertak just ignited a fuse and the Desertfest faithful just blew up! Power, subleness, singable (if I spoke Danish) choruses, pop, scream core, metal...where does one end. I just simply cannot give these guys a genre but one thing is for sure they just make ya smile! With guitars, punters, lead singers, flags and bass guitar straps literally flying all over the place these guys just racked up song after song and the crowd just keep on coming back for more. Having seen these guys play Download last year, it was an absolute pleasure and hugely fitting way to close up what had been a massive Saturday packed with expected, and more excitingly, many unexpected highlights.With the Black Heart being packed for the Cosmic Dead, which I heard was off the hook, we settled into The Worlds End for a few cleansers and a debrief. This festival just gets better every year!
Sunday 27th April Camden Town, London, UK 2014
Sigh....It is with weary legs and heavy head we dragged ourselves back on the train for the familiar shlep up to Camden for the final day of Desertfest. Having not stopped nodding away to Kvelertak all through the night, it was with great anticipation I settled in at the Electric Ballroom to for more musical discoveries. What could today possible have installed to top yesterday?
Black Rainbows! Another band unearthed due to their DF signing, I have been keen to see this band since first discovering the opening riff to “The Hunter” from their latest offering Holy Moon. What I was not expecting was to have my head blown clean off by this Italian power trio! Thick, driving and groovy retro fuzz washed over the early comers and the Electric Ballroom was once again alive and kicking. Their 45 min set was tight and really blew out any cobwebs that may have formed since Kvelertak graced the stage not 14 hrs before. This was a fantastic set and if the line from the merch table is any kind of barometer, I was not the only one to think so. As Glowsun did last year, Black Rainbows provided just rewards for the early comers!
Lonely Camel and Radio Moscow are two bands that are separated by the Atlantic but their interpretation on the retro fuzz sound was spot on. Both bands graced the main stage to an every expanding crowd, and although not quite reaching the heights reached by Black Rainbows, both of these bands provided plenty of head nodding moments and I will certainly be checking out both bands out again in the future. Radio Moscow at the smaller Freak Valley Festival should work well.
So with any fears of fatigue quickly washed away (the only sign it was Sunday was the occasional punters sitting between sets, nothing on the carnage of last year where the Ballroom looked like a battlefield) and the lubrication process back underway, it was time to visit the holy grail of kebabs.. again! Now their is two things that are certain in this world. Death and the fact you will NEVER get what you ordered at The King of Falafal.. Chaos! (So bad.....but soooooo good!)
One of the main draw cards for the Sunday lineup was Boston’s own Elder. Having played the warm up gig on the Thursday last year to rave reviews it was a much anticipated return for this doom,stoner,psych trio. Having listened to their debut LP for much of the past 2 years it quickly dawned on me I should have invested more time into this band as their sound has moved on. From the doom soaked beginnings of this band a metamorphic transformation has taken place and they have evolved into a band that draw more from the Colourhaze/stoner mould than there doom origins. Now I don’t know if it was were I has standing but the sound didn’t appear to be great and it was all a bit muffled at times but front man Nick DiSalvo put on a lesson in how to create a huge sound with only one guitar. I will be certainly spending some quality time with Dead Roots Stirring release before my next meeting with this band Germany.
Now having discovered The Midnight Ghost Train and reading reviews of their legendary live shows, this was a band I was not willing to compromise on. Having played Buffalo on repeat for about a month late last year and knowing the size of the Black Heart band room I headed over early to ensure time for another Hells (or was it an Ink) and settled in right down the front left. Well there are bands you see over the duration of a festival and then there are bands that you live and breathe. MGT brought their brand of southern, gospel, high voltage rawk like a freight train right throw the front door and smashed through a full on 45 min set with the energy to power a small third world country. Climate change will simple cease to exist if we can simply just work out a way to tap into MGT front man Steve Moss. What a stage presence! The packed Black Heart knew they were witnessing something special and when the final drones of fuzz and feedback evaporated into the sweat soaked walls of the Black Heart I was left in no doubt that this was the set of the weekend.
How was anything going to follow this? Well simply put, it couldn’t. Grandloom tried hard and although putting on an incredible display of instrumental psych rock, (on any other occasion they would have stolen the show!) for me my Desert fest was winding down to an ear ringing, back aching, beer fuelled crescendo. (If a creshendo can wind down?) Boris would have to wait for another day.
So where to end this account. Deseretfest 14 was a triumph! It is a festival like no other. The friendly vibe along with the abundant quality of the bands is what makes Desertfest unique. The humility of the bands is so evident. Reece Tee and the Desertscence crew have once again done a fantastic job. The diversity within the “stoner” genre is alive and well and it is so good to see bands from 4 continents in one weekend. I was great to see old and new friends and thanks to everyone who picked up a Morsel Sticker. My final thought/impression this year which differs from last year’s experience where European bands stole the show, is that there is one HELL of a racket coming out of the States at the moment! Bring it on!
Thanks for reading and bring on Freak Valley!
Fuzz f’n Tastic!
For plenty of footage of the weekend, check out The Heavy Chronicles Youtube page HERE
